Chapter 229: It’s Been a While (9)

Chapter 229: It’s Been a
While (9)

Having
experienced various incidents in the labyrinth, he instinctively
realized that the current situation was turning quite unusual.

When
a portal opened in the air with a crack, Balkan immediately took care
of Ellie who was nearby.

She
had been stumbling drunk until just moments ago, but now she was
staring blankly into the air with a sobered face.

“……beautiful…”

The
genius half-elf mage was expressing pure admiration while looking at
the portal that was undoubtedly opened by the peacock beastkin who
had emerged through the crack.

Perhaps
she had gained insight from seeing the magic she had failed to
perform unfold before her eyes.

Whatever
the case, this wasn’t a situation to just stand in admiration.

Balkan
hugged Ellie, who was moving her lips as if calculating something
while looking at the portal, and ran.

Even
though Ellie was a royal mage, he couldn’t leave her alone where such
beings were running wild.

[LV.6■
Ignorion]

[LV.7■
Gott]

‘They’re
fucking monsters.’

—Beware
of Pride and Sloth, the peacock beastkin and the woman in white
robes.

I
recalled the advice that Lust’s worshipper had sent through her
familiar.

The
peacock beastkin with the strange ability to open portals must be
Pride’s worshipper and the red-haired minotaur Ain beside her must be
Wrath’s worshipper, known by the epithet ‘Doomsayer’.

When
I returned to my position, Professor Manko Steel was engaged in
battle with the Doomsayer, and Rubia was following the security
team’s lead in evacuating those who had fainted.

“Rubia.
Please take care of Ellie.”

“Ah,
this person…”

“She’s
someone precious to me.”

“…!
Understood! I shall protect her without fail! But wait, where are you
going, Mr. Balkan?!”

“The
situation looks a bit precarious.”

Even
Professor Manko Steel and the Duke who was known as a level 50 sword
saint couldn’t inflict any wounds on the Doomsayer’s body.

Looking
at the massive red-haired minotaur’s body moving heavily in the
fierce battle, I could understand why.

‘She’s
wearing magi like armor under her fur.’

Magi
had properties that dispersed magic and reduced physical attacks.

Moreover,
the opponent wielding such ability was a level 70 monster.

Professor
Manko Steel’s magic barely hit, but fireballs from mages like
Fusilini or Lammel would dissipate before even touching the fur but
even such magi had a weakness.

‘Pure
holy power.’

A
strike using the Blessing of Radiance could tear through that fur.

“Are,
are you planning to jump into that melee?! That’s impossible…”

Rubia,
who was about to shoot down the idea, closed her mouth.

Balkan
now had the eyes of a warrior about to engage in a battle worthy of
mythology.

Who
could stop that determination? At least not Rubia herself.

The
only words she could offer were simply:

“If
you die, it’s all over.”

“That’s
why I have to live.”

Balkan
ran toward the battlefield with that brief response while downing his
last remaining magic potion that he had brought just in case.

Although
Fusilini had warned about severe side effects, this wasn’t the time
to worry about side effects.

His
benefactor who had saved him from death was in danger.

‘That’s
reason enough to rush in without thinking twice.’

Strengthening
his resolve, he activated the Blessing of Judgment Time.

He
could feel his magic power swelling rapidly due to the potion’s
effect.

The
magic power gathered in his heart through the Dragon’s Heart blessing
vibrated violently and circulated throughout his body.

A
heartbeat five times larger than usual echoed in his ears, and an
electrifying sense of omnipotence enveloped his body.

With
magic manipulation ability that had become even freer than when he
faced the chimera, he donned magic armor and sprinted.

Using
overflowing magic power as propulsion by detonating it behind him, he
arrived at explosive speed to find Gott bringing down her axe toward
Celsia.

After
rushing between them immediately.

-Keeeeeeeing!

While
hearing the startup sound of the Blessing of Radiance, he blocked
Goat’s strike.

-Kaaaaaaaaang!!!

When
the axe with tremendous mass hit the magic armor imbued with the
Blessing of Radiance, a small explosion occurred with a thunderous
sound.

It
was the collision of powerful magi and holy power.

“This
holy power, could it be…!!”

Gott,
noticing him, stepped back hurriedly in confusion.

Balkan
looked down at his cracked arm guard and his legs embedded in the
marble floor, and smiled chillingly.

‘That
was dangerous.’

The
increased magic efficiency from the Dragon’s Heart blessing saved
him.

If
he hadn’t been able to make the magic armor more solid because of it,
his arm would have broken right there.

It
was truly dangerous, but he survived.

The
one smiling now was him, while Gott wore an expression that was
rotting away, unable to smile.

“It’s
been a while, Lady Knight.”

“……”

Taking
advantage of the slight respite to greet Celsia, she stared at me
with a blank face.

She
had a look as if asking why are you here.

When
Balkan saw Celsia’s silly face with her mouth wide open, he felt a
strange mischievousness rising.

“Do
you perhaps not remember?”

“Ah,
no. That’s not it.”

“Looking
at you now, you clearly remember. Why did you pretend not to know me
at the academy graduation ceremony?”

“Ugh,
ah, no…! I, I didn’t pretend not to know…!”

Celsia
frantically shook her head. Seeing that made him smile and feel a
strange satisfaction from saving the one who had saved him.

‘Not
bad.’

If
he had to say whether it was good or bad, it was very good.

“That
bastard…”

Gott
looked at the man emanating dazzling holy power while wearing magic
armor.

Whether
it’s holy power, magi, or magic power.

All
types of power leave their user’s unique texture when accumulated in
the body and released.

Like
body odor or fingerprints, traces remain.

And
the holy power emitted by the man before him was the one that had
left a strong impression in Gott’s recent memory.

“So
you’re the bastard Sloth was talking about?”

Hearing
Gott’s muttering while readjusting her axe, Balkan realized that
Sloth’s worshipper had informed the devil worshippers about him.

‘Well,
that’s probably why Lust passed on the information.’

As
he was about to retort to that, someone grabbed Balkan’s shoulder.

It
was Diana with a slightly tired expression.

“Well
done, Balkan. Really well done.”

“Are
you alright?”

He
had seen her being slammed into the wall but Diana calmly answered
while lightly dusting off her legs.

“Yes.
My arm is slightly cracked but I applied a potion so it’s fine. Your
Highness, are you alright?”

“Ah.
Yes. Thanks to…”

Celsia
nodded while alternately looking at Balkan and Diana.

Noticing
her gaze flickering toward Balkan, Diana immediately got to the
point.

“Balkan.
I’m sorry, but I need your help.”

For
Diana to ask for help to this extent must mean the opponent is not to
be taken lightly.

However,
having come this far, I was already prepared.

While
immediately nodding, Balkan expressed his concern in a small voice so
the opponent wouldn’t hear.

“I
can help anytime but I’m reaching my limit soon. The magic power was
boosted by the potion.”

Even
that charged magic power was more than half depleted from blocking
just that one strike.

In
such a situation, how could he be of help against that monster-like
minotaur…

“It’s
alright. Just place your hand on my back. Instead, pour your holy
power into me.”

Diana
said while creating ice arrows with magic power.

Perhaps
due to their time together, Balkan figured out what she was trying to
do.

She
was planning to shoot those ice arrows imbued with holy power.

For
those who handle magi, holy power is the ultimate counter.

With
the priests in the banquet hall unconscious after Gott’s attack, he
was the one with the most pure and massive holy power.

And
he had thoroughly experienced its power when catching Bunny and the
chimera monster before.

‘If
we combine Diana’s attack with my Blessing of Radiance…’

This
will work.

“Can
you do it?”

“I
have to.”

“Good
answer.”

Though
it was his first time trying this, he had to succeed.

The
minotaur before them was preparing to charge again with a fully
heated face but Diana had already nocked an arrow to her bowstring.

I
took a deep breath and placed my palm on Diana’s back.

I
immediately activated the Blessing of Radiance.

-Keeeeeeeing!!

Along
with the startup sound ringing in my mind, I felt my energy draining
in real-time, and dazzling holy power was released.

I
recalled the sensation of wrapping the Blessing of Radiance around my
axe.

There
was only one difference: imbuing power into someone else’s weapon
instead of my own.

-Crack.
Crackle.

Control
is difficult. The holy power being imbued into the ice arrow kept
scattering here and there.

The
unfamiliar application method had an effect, but the fact that the
target was Diana was also a big factor.

‘Too
wide.’

The
period of accumulating power was different. Diana’s flow was too
wide.

-Swoosh.

As
I was struggling to get a grip on it, a small but warm hand was
placed on my back.

Though
I couldn’t see it, I could tell it was Celsia’s hand.

Woong—

Right
after, Balkan’s eyes flew open.

He
could see the path.

Celsia’s
magic power created a channel for holy power to flow through.

Celsia’s
magic power laid down a path, showing the direction where the holy
power should flow.

As
I channeled holy power following the path Celsia was guiding, Diana’s
ice arrow began to be imbued with the dazzling light of radiance.

“Kwuooooooooo!”

In
the distance, the Doomsayer rushed in with an urgent roar.

Why
was it?

Though
it must have been a similar situation to just before now it didn’t
look like a beast’s charge, but rather like a desperate struggle to
somehow block the fatal strike coming for her.

Balkan,
Diana, and Celsia felt as if they had become one as they released the
bowstring.

Zzzzzzzzzak!!!!!

Along
with a storm of ice, the banquet hall was dyed in the light of
radiance.